General Atomics showcased its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System at Defexpo 2014

Posted On
Monday, 10 February 2014 09:33

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DEFEXPO 2014 Daily News - General Atomics EMALS

General
Atomics showcased its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System at Defexpo
2014

At
Defexpo, US Company General Atomics showcased its Electromagnetic Aircraft
Launch System (EMALS). Navy Recognition learned that eventhough
the technology would have to be cleared for export by the US congress,
General Atomics is activelly seeking to export the system to potential
customers such as India, Brazil and even France in the future.

Electromagnetic
Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) will first be fitted onboard the USS Gerald
R. Ford
Picture: General Atomics

Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is a complete launch
system designed to replace the existing steam catapult currently being
used on aircraft carriers. The
USS Gerald R. Ford, the first ship of the CVN-21 Future Aircraft
Carrier Class, will use electromagnetic launch systems.

During Defexpo 2014, a General Atomics representative explained to
Navy Recognition that EMALS would have been fitted on the
Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, should UK have
retained the CATOBAR (catapult) configuration.

The representative explained to us that export markets for EMALS consisted
in current and future CATOBAR aircraft carrier users including Brazil,
India (the reason for the company's presence at Defexpo) and potentially
France in the future. We also learned that General Atomics and DCNS
representatives met during Defexpo to discuss possibilities of fitting
EMALS onboard DCNS future aircraft carrier designs. Finally, we were
told that General Atomics would attend Euronaval 2014, the leading
naval defense exhibition which will be held in October 2014 in Paris.